If the tallest and shortest individuals of a population of humans do not survive and reproduce as well as the individuals of 'average' height, which type of selection would most likely result?

The stabilizing selection, also known as purifying, is one of the three main ways by which natural selection acts on a certain quantitative and inheritable character.

Generally, this type of selection occurs on a particular feature and maintains its size over the generations. In constant environments it is presumably the most common selection model in nature.

This type of selection is responsible for preserving the average characteristics of a population, favoring the reproduction of these individuals.

Natural selection is capable of modifying the parameters - average and variance - of a character in the population. This continuous character is plotted on a normal distribution curve or bell graphic (see graphic in the image above).

The way in which the selection modifies this normal curve will allow us to conclude whether the selection is diversifying, directional or stabilizing.

In the stabilizing selection model, the population average is not modified throughout the generations, while the variance is decreasing (since this type of selection eliminates extreme values, and the character begins to be more homogeneous) .

Although we might think that the stability of the average in a population could indicate that there are no evolutionary forces acting on it, the phenomenon could be explained by the presence of a strong stabilizing selection